Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach continued to spend money on its new city school board as the rush continues to complete the separation from Baldwin County schools by July 1 or in less than four months.

At the April 19 council meeting, the city hired two consultants and also passed a resolution appropriating $1 million to the new board after hiring its first two employees on April 12. The money will be used for startup costs for the nascent system which will not receive state or local revenue until Oct. 1 if the separation is complete by July 1. In the past, Alabama school separation negotiations have lasted from nine months to 18 months.

The council also offered its support to the school board’s effort to receive a Pre-K grant for one class at Orange Beach Elementary for school years 2022-25. The current class is attached to Baldwin County schools and with the separation Orange Beach needs to apply for its own program.

The city will also add consultants Dr. Suzanne Freeman to advise on educational matters and Russell Raney to advise on financial matters. Both will be paid $150 an hour plus expenses including “reasonable” hotel, travel and meal costs.

On April 12, the school board hired Dr. Robbie Smith as interim superintendent and hired Finance Director/Assistant City Administrator Ford Handley as interim chief schools financial officer. Smith, the former principal at both Orange Beach High School and Middle School signed a six-month contract worth $14,266 a month.

Handley signed a 12-month contract worth $12,000 on top of his salary for his other positions with the city. The city’s job listing says the director and assistant administrator position pays between $125,000 and $190,000. During the meeting, the council also amended the employees pay plan to adjust the position of finance director/assistant city administrator.

During the regular session, the council:

• Declared May 7 as Lemonade Day in south Baldwin County. The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce foster the program to teach grade school students about work ethic and entrepreneurship.

• Proclaimed May as Mental Health Month in Orange Beach.

• Recognized Orange Beach High School wrestler Shayd Arbeneaux who was first in Baldwin County in the 120-pound division, fourth place at the South Super Sectional and fourth place in the state. Wrestling Coach Tim George made the presentation to the council.

• Postponed appointing Jamie Logan as the city attorney to May 3. According to the employee pay plan, pay for the position will be between $175,000 and $225,000. City attorney was also added as a job listing on the city’s pay plan.

• Passed a resolution awarding a contract for $139,300 to Thompson Engineering to perform design, bid and construction administration for the repair and replacement of canoe trail sites damaged in Hurricane Sally.

• OK’d a resolution to buy a pump from Hydra Services for the Utilities Department for $61,925.

• OK’d the rejection of a bid for a UTV for the fire department for $20,089.

• Entered into a three-year contract with KultureCity a company that says on its website it is “the nation's leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities” for the police department. The contract includes online training, decals for cars, sensory bags and a mobile sensory station that can be plugged up in virtually any room. The first-year contract is for $1,700 and the mobile unit will cost $2,500. Gov. Kay Ivey signed up for services for state law enforcement officers in August. Read the story here.

• Signed a marina slip license agreement with Safe Harbor Sportsman which is providing the slip for free so the city can do some dredging at its marina east of Sportsman.

• OK’d a resolution accepting the statements of work from CivicPlus for CivicEngage for website design and hosting, and CivicHR for employee management software. CivicEngage will cost the city $34,888 the first year and $11,307 annually after that. For CivicHR, the city is paying $26,906 for the first year and $22,968 annually after the first year.

• OK’d a liquor license for Fish House which is planning on moving into the former Sauced location on Canal Road east of Brick and Spoon. The space was also formerly Hogfish Grill and before that Lester’s.

During the work session, the council discussed:

• A resolution authorizing a memorandum of agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation allowing the city to pick up debris along state-maintained roadways in the city.

• A Uniti Fiber franchise agreement with the city.

• Authorizing contracts with DeRhonda Ponder, Jodi Williamson and Stacie Brane for special needs aide services for the afterschool Expect Excellence program.

• Setting a public hearing for the proposed Turquoise Place parking garage on the east side of the complex. The suggested date was June 7.

• Heard a reminder there will be a public hearing May 3 and first reading of an ordinance change for a setback waiver at 49 Parks Edge.

• Heard a reminder there will be a public hearing May 3 and first reading of an ordinance change for a setback waiver for lot 60 in the Summer Salt Subdivision behind Doc’s Seafood on beach road.